Current Affairs Quiz — 14 October 2024
Daily news by your exam, state and topic — each with a short summary, key facts and MCQs.
India's High Commissioner to Canada, whose withdrawal the MEA announced on 14 October 2024, was:
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Correct answer: A — Sanjay Kumar Verma
MEA (14 Oct 2024): the Government of India decided to withdraw the High Commissioner and other targeted diplomats and officials; MEA's statement that day names High Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma.
Who was the Canadian Acting High Commissioner among the six diplomats India expelled on 14 October 2024?
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Correct answer: B — Stewart Ross Wheeler
MEA (14 Oct 2024): the 6 Canadian diplomats to be expelled include Mr. Stewart Ross Wheeler, Acting High Commissioner.
How many Canadian diplomats did India decide to expel on 14 October 2024, and by when were they asked to leave?
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Correct answer: D — 6; by 11:59 PM on 19 October 2024
MEA (14 Oct 2024): the Government of India decided to expel 6 Canadian diplomats, asked to leave India by or before 11:59 PM on Saturday, October 19, 2024.
Consider the following statements about the MEA releases of 14 October 2024 on Canada: 1. The Canadian Charge d'Affaires was summoned by Secretary (East) that evening. 2. Deputy High Commissioner Patrick Hebert was among the six Canadian diplomats to be expelled. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both correct per MEA (14 Oct 2024): the Canadian Charge d'Affaires was summoned by Secretary (East) this evening; the expulsion list includes Mr. Patrick Hebert, Deputy High Commissioner.
The National Electricity Plan (Transmission) launched on 14 October 2024 was prepared by:
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Correct answer: C — Central Electricity Authority
PIB (14 Oct 2024): CEA prepared the detailed National Electricity Plan (Transmission) in consultation with stakeholders.
As per the National Electricity Plan (Transmission), the investment opportunity in the transmission sector till 2032 is over:
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Correct answer: B — ₹9,15,000 crore
PIB (14 Oct 2024): the plan provides visibility of an investment opportunity of over INR 9,15,000 Crores in the transmission sector till 2032.
Consider the following statements about the National Electricity Plan (Transmission): 1. It considers 47 GW of Battery Energy Storage Systems and 31 GW of Pumped Storage Plants. 2. Inter-regional transmission capacity is planned to reach 168 GW by 2032. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both correct per PIB (14 Oct 2024): the plan considers 47 GW BESS and 31 GW PSP; inter-regional capacity to increase to 143 GW by 2027 and 168 GW by 2032 from 119 GW.
Who is the President of Algeria with whom President Droupadi Murmu held talks on 14 October 2024?
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Correct answer: A — Abdelmadjid Tebboune
PIB (14 Oct 2024): President Murmu held a meeting with Mr Abdelmadjid Tebboune, the President of the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria.
President Murmu's October 2024 State Visits, which began in Algeria, covered which three countries?
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Correct answer: C — Algeria, Mauritania and Malawi
PIB (14 Oct 2024): Algiers was the first leg of her State Visits to Algeria, Mauritania, and Malawi.
At which venue in Algiers did President Murmu meet President Tebboune on 14 October 2024?
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Correct answer: B — El Mouradia Palace
PIB (14 Oct 2024): the President visited the El Mouradia Palace where she held a meeting with President Tebboune; the memorial and museum were visited earlier that morning.
What was the all-India year-on-year CPI inflation rate for September 2024?
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Correct answer: B — 5.49%
MoSPI via PIB (14 Oct 2024): year-on-year inflation rate based on All India CPI for September 2024 is 5.49%.
What was the all-India Consumer Food Price Index (CFPI) inflation for September 2024?
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Correct answer: C — 9.24%
MoSPI via PIB (14 Oct 2024): year-on-year inflation based on All India CFPI is 9.24% (Provisional) for September 2024.
Consider the following statements about CPI data for September 2024: 1. Rural CPI inflation was lower than urban CPI inflation. 2. CFPI inflation was below 5%. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: D — Neither 1 nor 2
Neither is correct per MoSPI (14 Oct 2024): rural inflation 5.87% was higher than urban 5.05%, and CFPI inflation was 9.24%.
By how much did the NPPA raise the ceiling prices of 11 scheduled formulations of 8 drugs, as announced on 14 October 2024?
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Correct answer: D — 50%
PIB (14 Oct 2024): NPPA approved increase in the ceiling prices of eleven scheduled formulations of eight drugs by 50% of their current ceiling prices.
Consider the following statements about the NPPA decision announced on 14 October 2024: 1. The NPPA reduced the ceiling prices of the eight drugs. 2. The NPPA invoked extraordinary powers under Para 19 of the DPCO, 2013. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: B — 2 only
Statement 2 is correct; statement 1 is wrong. PIB (14 Oct 2024): invoking extraordinary powers under Para 19 of DPCO 2013, NPPA approved an increase (not a reduction) in ceiling prices.
Who was India's Ambassador to Japan with whom the Army Chief was to interact in Tokyo on 14 October 2024?
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Correct answer: D — Sibi George
PIB (14 Oct 2024): on 14 October General Upendra Dwivedi will interact with Shri Sibi George, Indian Ambassador to Japan.
On the last day of his Japan visit (17 October 2024), where was General Upendra Dwivedi scheduled to lay a wreath?
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Correct answer: A — Hiroshima Peace Park
PIB (14 Oct 2024): on 17 October the COAS will visit Hiroshima and lay a wreath at Hiroshima Peace Park and pay tributes to Mahatma Gandhi's Statue there.
'Samarthak', launched on 14 October 2024, is the first ship of which Indian Navy project?
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Correct answer: A — Multi Purpose Vessel project
PIB (14 Oct 2024): Samarthak is the first ship of the two Multi Purpose Vessel project being built by L&T Shipyard for the Indian Navy.
When was the contract for the two Multi Purpose Vessels signed between the Ministry of Defence and L&T Shipyard?
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Correct answer: C — 25 March 2022
PIB (14 Oct 2024): the contract for building two Multi Purpose Vessels was signed between MoD and L&T Shipyard on 25 Mar 22.
Stage-I of GRAP, invoked across the NCR on 14 October 2024, corresponds to which Delhi AQI range?
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Correct answer: A — 201-300 ('Poor')
PIB (14 Oct 2024): Stage-I of GRAP - 'POOR' Air Quality (Delhi AQI ranging between 201-300).
How many actions are envisaged under Stage-I of the revised GRAP invoked on 14 October 2024?
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Correct answer: C — 27
PIB (14 Oct 2024): all 27 actions as envisaged under Stage-I of the revised GRAP to be implemented from 8:00 AM of 15.10.2024.
Which of the following countries was NOT among the participants of the MALABAR 2024 Sea Phase?
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Correct answer: D — France
PIB (15 Oct 2024): ships and aircraft from Australia, India, Japan and USA took part; France was not a participant.
The Sea Phase of MALABAR 2024 commenced on 14 October 2024 off the coast of:
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Correct answer: B — Visakhapatnam
PIB (15 Oct 2024): the Sea Phase of Exercise MALABAR 2024 commenced on 14 Oct 24 off the coast of Visakhapatnam.
The PLI Scheme for White Goods, whose third application round drew 38 applicants in October 2024, covers which products?
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Correct answer: C — Air conditioners and LED lights
PIB (14 Oct 2024): PLI Scheme for White Goods (Air Conditioners and LED lights).
What was the net committed investment by the 38 applicants in the third round of the PLI Scheme for White Goods?
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Correct answer: A — ₹4,121 crore
PIB (14 Oct 2024): the third round attracted 38 responses with a net committed investment of Rs 4,121 crore.
What was the annual WPI-based inflation rate (provisional) for September 2024, released on 14 October 2024?
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Correct answer: D — 1.84%
PIB (14 Oct 2024): annual rate of inflation based on all India WPI is 1.84% (Provisional) for September 2024.
What is the base year of the Wholesale Price Index series used for the September 2024 data?
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Correct answer: A — 2011-12
PIB (14 Oct 2024): Index Numbers of Wholesale Price in India for September 2024 (Base Year: 2011-12).
The MAHA-EV Mission launched by ANRF on 14 October 2024 focuses on R&D in:
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Correct answer: A — Electric vehicle components such as battery cells, PEMD and charging infrastructure
PIB (14 Oct 2024): MAHA-EV Mission is designed to build an R&D ecosystem for EV components particularly Battery Cells, Power Electronics, Machines, and Drives (PEMD) and Charging Infrastructure.
The first meeting of the ANRF Governing Board, which began its operationalisation, was held on:
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Correct answer: C — 10 September 2024
PIB (14 Oct 2024): the operationalisation of ANRF was initiated with the first meeting of the Governing Board on September 10, 2024, chaired by the Prime Minister.
The AI chatbot for the Skill India Digital Portal under the MSDE-Meta partnership (October 2024) is powered by which model?
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Correct answer: B — Llama
PIB (14 Oct 2024): an AI-chatbot powered by Meta's open-source Llama model will be developed for the Skill India Digital Portal.
Which of the following is NOT among the NSTI locations for the five VR/MR Centres of Excellence under the MSDE-Meta partnership?
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Correct answer: D — Kolkata
PIB (14 Oct 2024): the 5 CoEs are at NSTIs located at Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Jodhpur, Chennai and Kanpur; Kolkata is not listed.
Who assumed charge as Director General Medical Services (Navy) on 14 October 2024?
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Correct answer: B — Surgeon Vice Admiral Kavita Sahai
PIB (14 Oct 2024): Surgeon Vice Admiral Kavita Sahai, SM, VSM assumes charge as Director General Medical Services (Navy) on 14 Oct 24.
During his October 2024 Nagaland visit, Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram visited an Eklavya Model Residential School at:
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Correct answer: D — Diphupar
PIB (14 Oct 2024): Shri Oram also visited the Eklavya Model Residential School (EMRS) in Diphupar.
Alongside its first Mid-Career Training Programme for BIMSTEC civil servants (October 2024), the NCGG began the 34th Capacity Building Programme for civil servants of:
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Correct answer: C — Maldives
PIB (14 Oct 2024): the first BIMSTEC programme was held alongside the 34th Capacity Building Programme for civil servants from the Maldives.